Click here for more information on careers in architecture, interior design
and construction management
Have you always wanted to design a house for yourself? Or redecorate your bedroom? Or build a house? If so, you should consider building design or construction as a career.
You can enter the stimulating field of Architecture, Interior Design and Construction Management at Triton College. Since 1965, Triton College has been preparing students for work in this important career area.
The demand is high, and salaries are attractive. Best of all, the work is interesting, creative and always varied.
Triton College offers several programs of study to satisfy every level of interest in these fields.
Architecture Architecture (in Greek arch = "first" and tecnh = "craftsmanship") is the imaginative blend of art and science used in the design of buildings. A wider definition would include within its scope the design of the total built environment, from the macrolevel of town planning, urban design, and landscape architecture to the microlevel of furniture. Problem solving, decision-making, team leadership, and creativity are key elements in making architecture and lead to the tremendous excitement that comes from seeing a design idea become a physical reality. In two years, Triton College will train you in the skills needed to get a job working in the industry as a drafter, model builder, delineator, or an architect’s assistant. Even if you begin the program not knowing how to draw a straight line, you will be able to create designs for large buildings (as well as houses) when you finish your course of study. Graduates of Triton’s Architectural Program are in high demand because of their broad-based practical knowledge of building science, visualization, design and drawing skills. If you wish to go on to become licensed as an architect, you can transfer your two years of architectural courses taken at Triton College to one of three state universities where you may complete a Bachelor’s Degree in another two years of school. Triton also offers a number of one-year certificate programs in Architecture to enable you to work in specialized areas of the profession, such as computer-aided design and drafting.
An outgrowth of architecture as a
career is Interior Design, a growing
profession. Interior designers specialize in planning the interior layout
of buildings, selecting color schemes for rooms, furniture, carpets, tile, upholstery
fabrics, draperies, and other interior materials. You may wish to pursue
a two year degree in Interior Design at Triton College. This degree will
permit you to become registered in Illinois as an Interior Designer. There
are many opportunities for successful employment in traditional interior design
firms, as well as in the more specialized kitchen and bath industry.
There are also several one year certificate programs in Interior Design which will equip you to work in the field as a designer, drafter, or in interior products sales. Whatever your unique area of interest or time limitations we have a program that will fit it.
The faculty in the Architecture and Interior Design programs have a brilliant reputation in the profession. One of Triton’s faculty was selected as the first recipient of the American Institute of Architects “Educator of the Year” award in Illinois. Another professor served as the President of the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and was elected as Faculty of the Year for the entire state of Illinois in the year 2000, and received the AIA's "Excellence in Education" award in 2001. Many faculty also are employed in the field and bring with them a long history of practical experience which they eagerly share with their students.
The instructional studio facilities for these programs are second to none in the State. Each student desk is equipped with a computer and the latest CADD graphics software, as well as a direct high-speed connection to the Internet. Every student is taught to use these up-to-date tools. In addition, virtually every existing physical building material can be seen in the samples collection within the studio.
Construction Management at Triton College provides skills in construction cost estimating, scheduling, job supervision, contract documents and other contract-related elements of construction. Hands-on craft training in all aspects of construction, as well as construction technology theory and computer drawing is an important part of the student's education and will serve graduates well in their future careers. Students are prepared for jobs in construction management in medium to large sized construction companies. Students are also prepared to open their own general contracting companies after graduation. There is a great need for people in the industry who not only have the skills to perform construction, but who also have knowledge of the theory behind construction, how the industry relates to other disciplines. You could choose to go into many specialized fields such as surveying or building code enforcement. Those are degree programs available for study at Triton College. The industry currently has a need for people trained in those subjects.